Construction for toilet seats and covers



Nov. 19, 1935. E. J. NIELSEN CONSTRUCTION FOR TOILET SEATS AND COVERS Filed 001;. 26, 1931 Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNlTED SITES CONSTRUCTION FOR TOILET SEATS AND COVERS Emil J. Nielsen, Rockford, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Arthur Dullere, Freeport, Ill.

Application October 26, 1931, Serial No. 571,064

10 Claims.

This invention relates to toilet seats and/or covers and has particular reference to novel construction of the hinge arms thereof.

Toilet seats (and covers) have been made with the hinge arms fastened by screws to the seat or threaded into inserts mounted or molded in the seat, and these hinge arms were'usually of metal and nickel plated for the sake of appearance. This construction was unsatisfactory because the nickel plated hinge arms soon tarnished and gave a poor appearance, and not only that, but their connections with the seat often became wobbly, due to rough handling of the seat in which the connections were subjected to severe strains. After the advent of the molded seats, the use of the separate attachable hinge arms continued for some time, inserts being molded in the plastic composition of the seat to make threaded connection with the hinge arms, but the objection to that construction was that the plastic material was too apt to crack in the vicinity of the inserts and the inserts worked loose. Following this, hinge arms were 'made molded integral with the seat having metal inserts there- 25 in reaching from the hinge arms into the body of the seat. While such construction gave flush surfaces at all points instead of the unwholesome crevices found in the old constructions, there was the objection, nevertheless, that the material was 30 not homogeneous, and the manufacturer could not always be certain that no voids were left in or about the inserts, and in some instances the hinge arms were weak enough to break off,

especially if the seat happened to be handled 3 roughly. It is, therefore, the principal object of my invention not only to mold the hinge arms integral with the seat so as to present flush surfaces at all points, but to incorporate inserts of cloth or other porous fibrous material through and about which the material is capable of flowing in the molding operation so that the material is substantially homogeneous and positively free of voids, and the hinge arms are correspondingly much stronger.

Another important object of the invention lies in the pre-treatment of the insert material and the compressing and forming thereof between dies to substantially the shape desired so that there will not be the slightest danger of any voids J or blowholes in the molding operation, and all of the hinge arms Will be produced to uniform texture and strength. For example, in the molding of the seats of phenolic condensation material, the insert material is impregnated with phenolic resin, which, in the molding operation,

is arranged to become plastic and blend with the molding material.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a rear view in perspective of a 5 toilet seat, the hinge arms of which are made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one-half of one of the inserts;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through 10 the mold, indicating how the inserts are positioned embedded in the phenolic condensation material for the molding operation, and

Fig. l is a section through the completed seat taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l. 15

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

The toilet seat, represented at 5, is molded of phenolic condensation material, and in accordance with my invention has the hinge arms 6 thereof molded integral therewith. The openings 1 through the hinge arms are for the reception of the usual hinge pintle carried on standards fastened on the bowl in the usual way. As stated above, metallic inserts have been molded in the hinge arms on toilet seats and covers, but were found to be objectionable because the voids or blowholes apt to be produced, owing to the fact that the hinge arms were not made of homogeneous material, tended to weaken the arms so that they could be broken ii handled roughly. The voids or blowholes were produced because of the inability of the material to flow into and about the inserts. Where the inserts were of solid metal, the hinge arms were apt to be weaker than where the material was allowed to flow more'cr less into and about the same, which is considered to be a significant fact in itself. According to my invention, I provide a reinforcing insert 8 of cloth fibers or any other suitable porous fibrous material through and about which the material is arranged to flow readily in the molding operation and thus form a hinge arm of homogeneous material, far stronger than one made with the other construction referred to. The extent of reinforcement aiforded by the fibrous insert can be best appreciated when attention is called to the fact that actual test shows that a hinge arm reinforced in this way isapproximately twentytwo times as strong as one molded without such an insert. There is no fair basis for a comparison as between this insert and the metallic inserts, inasmuch as the metallic inserts employed differcd greatly, which would, of course, affect the ultimate strength of the hinge arms, and toilet seats with the metallic inserts were not very uniform; the strength of the hinge arms was more or less a matter of chance and depended on how well the material happened to flow about the inserts, but in any event hinge arms reinforced With a fibrous or fabric insert are much stronger than the others. Another important fact to consider in comparing the present construction with the old construction is that metallic inserts were subject to expansion and contraction to a different degree than the plastic composition material, and in the event of an extreme temperature condition, the plastic composition material was placed under strains tending to crack the same, Whereas the inert material employed as an insert in accordance with my invention is unaffected by changes in temperature. It is obvious that a seat with the hinge arms reinforced in this way is not made any heavier and the additional cost involved for the reinforcements is a small fracticn of'what additional cost was otherwise involved with the metallic inserts. It will appear from the following description that no serious complications are involved in the process of manufacture in the use of these inserts.

In the molding of the seat, as represented in Fig. 3, the upper and lower mold sections 9 and I0 provide the mold cavity H therebetween and a suitable arbor I2 is provided between the mold sections to produce the openings 7 in the hinge arms. The inserts 8, which, as illustrated in Fig. 2 are made in halves compressed to the general form of the hinge arms, suitably between dies, are placed in position above and below the arbor, with phenolic condensation material, represented at I3, poured into the mold cavity about and between the same so as to keep the inserts from showing in the surface of the hinge arms or in the openings 1 thereof when the seat is finished. The application of pressure, accompanied with heat, causes the material to flow and conform itself to the mold cavity in a well known manner. and during this operation the phenolic conden- 'sation material flows through and about the material of the inserts 8, thoroughly permeating the same such that when a hinge arm is cut through, as represented in Fig. 4, it is found that the fibers of the inserts are spread out and have the plastic composition material running through it at all points so that the hinge arms are of substantially homogeneous material and absolutely devoid of blowholes. The inserts 8 are made of cloth or any other suitable fabric or fibrous material and give a considerable degree of reinforcement as previously indicated. I have found that by having the material of the inserts impregnated with phenolic resin, similar to the phenolic condensation material of which the seat itself is made, there is absolutely no danger of blowholes being produced because the resin becomes plastic in the molding operation and blends or fuses with the phenolic condensation material When the latter is brought to the point of fusion, and in that way every fiber of the insert material becomes thoroughly bonded with the surround ing material and the maximum strength is insured. Manifestly, there is nothing complicated involved in the addition of the inserts, it being easier, if anything, to insert this kind of material than the metallic inserts because it is lighter and easier to handle, and the operator can feel sure that the material of the seat will permeate the same even though the inserts may be positioned in a more or less haphazard manner. The only precaution taken is to see to it that there is enough material poured under, over and about the inserts, to keep the same from showing through the surface of the finished seat.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a clear understanding of my invention and is enough to indicate the numerous advantages that are derived. It should be apparent that while I have illustrated and described my invention as applied to the making of a toilet seat with hinge arms integral therewith, it is an obvious extension of my invention to make toilet seat covers in substantially the same way, it being understood that it is also desired to make the hinge arms on the covers integral therewith and likewise reinforced. The following claims should, therefore, be construed so as to cover either a seat or cover. In the claims I have endeavored to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations of my invention such as will no doubt occur to those skilled in this art as a result of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. A construction for toilet seats and covers comprising a body of molded material having a hinge arm of similar material molded integral therewith, and having matted reinforcing fabric material molded in the junction of the arm and body, to strengthenthe connection between the arm and body against breakage under transverse load or by shock.

2. A construction for toilet seats and covers comprising a body of molded material having a perforated hinge arm of similar material molded. integral therewith and having matted reinforcing fabric material molded therein to strengthen the connection between the arm and body, the same reaching from the outer end of said arm about the opening, so as to strengthen the arm at that point, to a point in the body beyond the juncture of the arm and body so as to prevent breakage under transverse load or by shock.

3. A construction for toilet seats and covers comprising a body of molded material having a hinge arm of similar material molded integral therewith and having a reinforcing insert of matted porous fibrous material molded therein so that it is thoroughly bonded with the other material, whereby to strengthen the connection between the arm and body.

4. A construction for toilet seats and covers comprising a body of molded material having a perforated hinge arm of similar material molded integral therewith and having a reinforcing insert of matted and impregnated porous fibrous material molded therein so that it is thoroughly bonded with the other material, said insert reaching about the opening in the hinge arm and inwardly to a point in the body beyond the juncture of the arm and body, whereby to strengthen the perforated portion of the arm and also add strength atthe juncture to prevent breakage under transverse load or by shock.

5. A construction for toilet seats and covers comprising a body molded of a phenolic condensation material having a hinge arm of similar material molded integral therewith and having a reinforcing insert of porous fibrous material, matted to the general form of the ultimate hinge arm and molded therein so that its fibres are completely embedded in the other material whereby to strengthen the connection between the arm and body.

6. A construction for toilet seats and covers comprising a body molded of a phenolic condensation material having a hinge arm of similar material molded integral therewith and having molded therein a reinforcing matted insert of porous fibrous material impregnated with phenolic resin so that its fibres are completely embedded in and bonded tovthe other material, whereby to strengthen the connection between the arm and body.

7. A construction for toilet seats and covers, comprising a body having hinge arms projecting therefrom, the body and hinge arms being formed of a molded plastic composition material reinforced in the junction of the hinge arms with the body, with fabric material molded therein.

8. A construction for toilet seats and covers,

comprising a body having hinge arms projecting therefrom, the body and hinge arms being molded of a plastic composition material reinforced in the junction of the hinge arms with the body,

with a porous fibrous material impregnated with a material having a bonding affinity for the plastic composition material.

9. A construction for toilet seats and covers, comprising a body having hinge arms projecting therefrom, the body and hinge arms being molded of a phenolic condensation material reinforced in the junction of the hinge arms with the body, with a porous fibrous material impregnated with phenolic resin.

10. A construction for toilet seats and covers comprising a body of molded phenolic condensation material having a hinge arm of similar material molded integral therewith and having molded therein a reinforcing insert of porous 15 fibrous material impregnated with phenolic resin in the connection between the arm and body.

EMIL J. NIELSEN. 

